BATTLE REPORT: A DOSE OF YOUR OWN MEDICINE

[warzoneD]

While awaiting the results of the first campaign battle I got itchy and decided to run a little battle of my own (which will feed into the campaign narrative).

B.G.: Mishima has developed a new anti-darkness serum that poisons the "essence" of servants of the Dark Legion .  If they can weaponize the serum they can use it to drive the DL from their sector of the planet.

Semai's spies have learned of the Serum and have informed the great subterfuge-a-tor of the potential danger to his malignant machincations.  Seeking to outscheme the Mishimen, he has sent his loyal servant, Krayst, to steal the serum.  

In a lucky turn of events Mishima's Intelligence Agents managed to capture a Semai spy and through cybernetic probeing - have uncovered Semai's attacked plans--

RULES: Capture the serum container from the Med Lab and carry it off any table edge.  It will take 3 turns inside the lab to prep the serum for transport and destroy supplemental files.  Furthermore it requires TWO MODELS to carry the container.

DEPLOYMENT: Normal rules apply - Units deployed out of view are considered concealed and must be spotted.

[warzoneD]

FORCES--

SEMAI'S INSERTION TEAM (run by Matt) - 1123 PTS!

MATT: I've always wanted to run a Semai force.  I love the idea of infiltrating ahead of your opponent to take key strateg. locations. The only drawback, expensive models. I hope Mishima doesn't swamp me!

1) The Tongueless - Heretic Legionnaires (H1) - 8 + 1 Dissident Leader

2) The Thrice-Grim - Heretic Legionnaires (H2) - 8 + 1 Dissident Leader

3) The Brethren of Babel - Dissidents (x5)

4) Hashakk's Darkblades - Calistonian Intruders x4 + 1 Calistonian Conqueror

5) Drazim - Calistonian Sundancer

6) Uzulgoch - Metropolitan Prophet

7) The Fellfire Squad - Dark Hunstmen (x6) + 1 Eanonian Justifier - I'm using Necromunda Proxies.

8 ) Hissa & Azzash - Soul Reavers

9) Krayst The Litigator

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HOUSE MOYA'S PHOENIX GUARD (run by ME!) 1216 PTs

DAVE: I'm not sure why Matt had less pts - We didn't realize it until we had nearly gone half-way - but he decided rather than add a late unit he would play it out with the handicap. Not all battles are created equal!    As for my force - I had been wanting to try out Mishima for some time - I've had the models a while but always found myself playing other armies.  I wanted partic to use the Warrior Monks and Tiger Dragons.  

1) The Glorious Servants of the Eternal Louts - Yorama Warrior Monks x5 + 1 Rokudan

2) Hashiro Tigerstrike - Yorama Enlighte Master

3) The Shamed - Crimson Devils x5 + 1 Chem Sprayer +1 Leader

4) Nori & Nabuo Katanasaan - Greymen x2 buried in Crimson Devil unit

4) The Deathseekrs - Ronin Samurai x6 +1 Ldr, +1 HMG Spec

5) Storm of Fire - Bushi Meka (spprt)

6) The Shining Guard - Hatamoto x5, +1 Ldr, + 1 HMG Spec

7) Lord Orochi's Serpent Tonuges - Tiger Dragons x5, +1 Ldr, +1 Spear Master

8 ) The Earth Shakers - Phoenix Samurai x2

9) Bushi Masayoshi - Liege Lord

[warzoneD]

DEPLOYMENT


We deployed blind using cards.  Matt had a gang infiltrators so he got to hold a lot of his deployment back.  The serum is in the first aid station in the middle.  Whoever gets there has to hold it for 3 turns and then evac the serum out with a min of 2 models escorting it.

 
I placed my Phoenix Samurai (P-Sams) in the middle, hoping to use their HMG's to hold down large lanes of fire.

My Ronin and the Meka would then charge the center--  On my right flank I put the Crimson Devils (Crim-Devs)  My Tiger Dragons (T-Drags) and Monks I put on my left flank to rush the building...little did I know - someone had beaten them there!!!

MATT: I had a big advantage with my infiltrators - I don't think D realized how big until we started.  The only in initial forces I deployed were the Dark Huntsmen (D-Hunts), who I put under cover in my center, Krayst, and My Soul Reavers (S-Rvr's).  It was thorougly hilarious to see D's face when I said "Done."

[warzoneD]

TURN 1 - It begins

D: First Init went to Me.  Expecting several surprises having seen the deployment round - I had an eerie feeling Matt had infiltrators in the Manor House.  Certain my T-Drags would become expensive targets - I rushed my Ronin between them and the bushes and put a few on WAIT-- sure enough--

 

MATT: I had a whole unit, The Tongueless (H1), on the second floor of the building - and they opened fire on the Ronin (Good move by D!) - killing 1.



D: Not sure what else he had up there - I started mobilizing my War-Monkls right - across the table--

M: D knew I had guys up there, he just didn't know who-- I didn't much like those P-Sams holding the whole center of the field hostage so I thought I'd let Drazim, my Sundancer, say hello.

( I love this shot!)

Unfort. crappy rolling was my undoing - and despite an awesome surprise - Drazim proved a poor shot.  Sheiser!

[warzoneD]

D: Nice try Drazim - I decided to unleash the Storm of Fire (my Meka) on the Tongueless--

 

And followed that up with a volley of fire from the Deathseekers (Ronin).

M: Sustaining minimum damage despite the masive firepower - I turned my attention across the field to the Hatamotos in hiding and let my FellFire Squad (D-Hunts) taske some practice shots as they ran from cover to cover.  More bad rolling...I have a sinking feeling it will be my undoing today!

[warzoneD]

TURN 2 -  Of Devils & Heretics --



D: By now the Crim-Devs have begun their advance.  I've started my War-Mnks across the back away from the hail coming out of the building.  My main concern is of course where else is Matt hiding. It doesn't take long for me to find out--

M: The Thrice-Grim fan out (H2) from their spot behind the container and go on WAIT - to shoot down any pesky Crim-Devs trying to advance.  Only problem is, I realize too late my Kratachs are best at MR and am beginning to regret my deep deployment.

 

 

D: The P-Sams continue to hold the middle - Even though their HMG only have MR max and can't reach way across to Matt's D-Hunts - They can reach anyone trying to charge the med-lab - and that's all I need them to do.
M: D's P-Sams are certainly a p.i.t.a - but I know something he don't know!  

[warzoneD]

M: My Dark huntsmen open fire on his Hatamoto and kill 1.  I try to take out his HMG Spec, but the pesky varmint makes his AR.  Meanwhile the Tongueless unload hot lead on the Ronin - killing 2 more. Looks like this is a good match up for me.

 

D: I'm getting a bad feeling about the Manor House battle - Matt had -3 Cover to my -2.  But I do have the Meka - and that gives me some hope.  I unload and some spiffy dice rolling kills a bunch of Tongueless (H1) plus-- Luckily I'm JUST IN RANGE with my HMG to drill the upper wall of the building and NAIL DRAZIM, the Sundancer. Matt blows his AR and he's DEAD!  WHEW! Huge win for me.



With Matt's forces in the house widdled down, I take a risk and throw my Tiger D's forward-- I'm gambling he's doesn't have guys on the first floor too!

[warzoneD]

TURN 3 - The Worse Part of Valor--

You can see the Hatamotos snaking up the left of the crates, backed by the faceless, and the C-Devs coming up the right.  The Dark Huntsmen are back behind the folliage on the right side of the image.
The Heretics (H2) are in the middle.



M: This is what I was afraid of...with the Tongueless (H1) half gone, H2, too close to use their weapons effectively, and D's forces swarming from both sides, I could get overrun.  Time for a tactical retreat. I had been advancing my Soul Reavers to support The Thrice-Grim - but it's time to pull everyone back and regroup.  I have a surprise for the Tiger Dragons-- Just need a little patience--



D: Init. goes to me. I decide to finish off the Tongueless so they don't take potshots at my Tiger Dragons.  The Deathseekers (Ronin) unload and finish off the enemies in the house.



M: Ugh-- That's not good. I decide to switch areas to hope my luck changes-- The D-Hunts unload on the Hatamotos as they advance, killing 1.

 

But D fires back and takes out 2 of my guys - Being outnumbered as I am - this is not a good trade!

[warzoneD]

TURN 4: The Birth of Evil--

M: It's time to try and shake things up, shift the momentum. So far D has controlled the tempo of the battle (which he is oh so annoyingly adept at doing) and at this rate I won't last much longer. I love surprises, but sometimes I hold them off so long I lose the chance to use them - so I try something daring (keep your eye on that last Crim-Devil!).

 

Taking control of a trailing Crim-Dev - I drop back out of LOS and--

 
CARNIVEROUS BIRTH BABY!  



Uzulgoch doesn't disappoint and his handcannons anihilates the Enlightened Master before he can say "Yojimbo." Even if I lose this battle, this moment was good enough a victory for me!

[warzoneD]

D: Ugh! A Met-Prophet.  M hasn't had a chance to return him to Stalk mode, but I have no units nearby that haven't activated who can do anything about it....beautifully done!
To make matters worse, he has another surprise for my T-Drags as they reach the manor house--

 

M: I've been holding these Dissidents back - hopefully not too long. They burst out and kill all but three of D's T-Drags.  Unfort, the Ldr and Spear Spec are among the living.

D: Lord Orochi's men are down, but not out. I surive my LD test and charge!

Slaughtering 3 Dissidents - and causing them to Panic!

[warzoneD]

Turn 5 - Blood & Honor --

M: I win the Init, open up with Uzulgoch (pr: Ooz-zuhl-gogh) - Kill 2 Monks and then fall back out of LOS and into Unseen Assailant mode - BOOHAHAHAHA!



D: Oh boy-- This could get ugly! The nearest guys I have will require a 1 to spot him with a Stalk of 10.  I would love my P-Sams - who haven't fired a shot  yet to do it, but with 2 AC each - and needing 1 of those AC's to turn and face the Met-Proph before I even try to roll to SPOT - it'll be a minimum of two turns before I can fire on him.  I pull back Masayoshi, my Liege lord (second from right in pic below), hoping his wise and keen eyes will be able to flush out this invisible, albeit hulking, assassin.  



The tide is def. threatening to shift if I don't do something!--

[warzoneD]

Meanwhile-- Things are equally as intense elsewhere on the field--

M: with my Dissidents finished off by Orochi and his T-Drags
   
My right flank is gone-- the best I can do it shift my Dark Hunts around to cover the Manor House and turn up the heat on my left flank!



- Unfort D turns it up first!



Despite having The Thrice Grim (H2) on WAIT - I blow my LD rolls and D uses his Chem Sprayer to wipe out three of my guys - incl. my Diss Ldr. Luckily I don't fail my LD roll!

[warzoneD]

TURN 6 - The DL Strike Back--

M: I strike back with Hissa & Azzash!  But apparently I'm not the only one with a surprise up his sleeve--
 

D: I've been waiting for this moment-- I unleash one of my two Greymen. The C-Devs are on Wait - so I activate and COUNTERCHARGE!



(Forgive the unfinished paint job, pls!)  Nabuo hits home and bloodies Hissa before she can strike!



Meanwhile across the field - Orochi charges - I roll a 20 on 1st AC - UGH! But on my 2nd AC I roll a 4 and hit despite the -4 penalty. But Matt rolls a 1 for his AR and saves!  Orochi's 3rd attack, I roll a 1! And the Dissident dies. His fellow quickly follows him.

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M: I have one last surprise for D - But first I need to shut down those P-Sams - So Krayst uses his hysterical blindness power and reduces their range to 6" for the turn!

 

Spilling from the Medlab come Hashakk and his Darkblades - The Calistonians wade into the Hatamotos and cut them down like death-wheat for a blood harvest (whatever that means!)